University Directory

Mark F. Reynolds, PhD

Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mark F. Reynolds

Department

Office

Science Center 307

Phone

610-660-1518
Contact

Dr. Mark Reynolds obtained his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Grinnell College where he conducted research on new Mo imido complexes with Dr. Martin Minelli. He obtained his PhD in inorganic chemistry under the supervision of Dr. Judith Burstyn at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he worked on the first NO-sensing heme protein soluble guanylate cyclase from bovine lung and the first CO-sensing heme protein, CooA, from R. rubrum. Dr. Reynolds then completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota where he worked on a Mn-dependent catechol dioxygenase, MndD, in the lab of Dr. Lawrence Que Jr.

Dr. Reynolds is a pioneer in the field of biological gas sensing heme proteins having worked on the first CO and NO sensing heme proteins and the first heme and CO responsive ion channel. His collaborative work on the first heme-responsive ion channel in humans was published in Nature and profiled in the American Chemical Society Chemical and Engineering News and the AAAS’s Eureka Highlights. His research with SJU students seeks to understand the O2-sensing mechanism of the FixL heme protein which regulates nitrogen fixation in alfalfa and soybean plants. Another research project designs heme proteins to help degrade toxic textile dyes that pose a significant environmental problem by encapsulating them in a variety of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to improve their catalytic properties.

Dr. Reynolds’s research has been published in leading journals including ACS Biochemistry, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Accounts of Chemical Research and Nature. His research at Saint Joseph’s University has been funded by the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund, the Research Corporation Cottrell Fund, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes for Health and Merck, Inc. totaling over 2 million dollars. The Philadelphia section of the American Chemical Society honored Mark with the 2022 “Excellence in College Teaching Award”. Mark has successfully mentored over 80 undergraduate students in his research lab and has co-authored the American Chemical Society’s Biochemistry national exam.

At Saint Joseph’s, Mark helped to develop the Chemical Biology Program, growing it from 30 to approximately 60 majors in 6 years as program director. He also served as the Director of the University’s Office of Fellowships for 7 years, raising SJU’s national profile.

    • BA Grinnell College (1993)
    • PhD University of Wisconsin-Madison (1999)

  • Our latest research project uses synthetic inorganic chemistry to do green biochemistry. We are working to degrade toxic textile dyes that are a major water pollutant worldwide, particularly in Asian textile centers. I am collaborating with environmental chemist Usha Rao and a dye factory in Kensington, PA, to bioremediate their wastewater before it is discharged to the sewer system. Through our research thus far, we have discovered that common heme proteins, specifically hemoglobin and myoglobin, can safely and rapidly degrade important chemical classes of dyes with hydrogen peroxide. These enzymes are biodegradable and environmentally friendly, and can be classified as green catalysts. We are currently looking to improve the rate of action and the stability of these heme catalysts to further enhance the bioremediation process by encapsulating our heme proteins in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Students synthesize the MOF-encapsulated heme proteins in our lab and then characterize their ability to degrade textile dyes with UV-Vis spectroscopy and kinetic assays along with cryo-EM studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

    Gas sensing heme proteins regulate many important biological processes such as blood pressure, circadian rhythm, nitrogen fixation, neutransmission and chemotaxis and are found in all kingdoms of life.  Our research project examines the oxygen-sensing mechanism of the FixL protein regulates nitrogen fixation in alfalfa and soybean plants that are important global agricultural crops. By understanding how this oxygen-sensing system functions we hope to be able regulate the growth and development of these essential crops. We have discovered that purified FixL from S meliloti undergoes four conformational changes upon gas dissociation from the heme iron that regulates the kinase activity of the enzyme that controls nitrogen fixation. We are studying the role of several conserved residues heme residues in the heme pocket of SmFixL using site-directed variants Interestingly, a I209M variant where a distal isoleucine is replaced with a larger and more polarizable methionine, does not appear to bind oxygen but does bind carbon monoxide. We want to study why this switch in gas preference occurs, which could give us some interesting insights into how FixL and other heme proteins sense and respond to gases, a very important biochemical function found in all organisms. In our lab, SJU students get to do all the steps, they grow up the E. coli cells and express the WT and site-directed variant SmFixL proteins, and then they purify the proteins using column chromatography. We characterize the gas binding ability of our purified SmFixL  heme proteins with O2 and the analogs CO and NO using UV-VIS spectroscopy, kinase activity assays and other methods. The lessons we learn about the O2-sensing mechanism of FixL can be applied to the ubiquitous heme-PAS, histidine kinase, and two-component sensing families of proteins and be used to help regulate nitrogen fixation in these important crops.
     

  • Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

    Saint Joseph’s University undergraduate students are indicated by*

    • Reynolds, M. F., Rao, U. Pogash, S.*, Saul, A.*, Barr, G.*, Ortiz de Montellano, E.*, Falgie, B.*, Stefanic, I.*, Barry, D.* The Role of Horse Hemoglobin and Horse Heart Myoglobin as Green Catalysts in the Bioremediation of Four Classes of Industrial Textile Dyes, Biocatalysis and Biotransformation, 2024, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10242422.2024.2405047'
    • Reynolds, M. F., New Insights into the O2 Sensing Mechanism of FixL and other Biological Heme-Based  Gas Sensor Proteins, J. Inorg. Biochem,  Volume 259 (2024)  112642,             
      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2024.112642
    • Mokdad, A., Ang,  E.*, Desciak, M.*, Ott, C.*, Vilbert, A.*, Beddow, O.*, Butuc, A.*, Larsen, R. W., Reynolds, M. F. Photoacoustic Calorimetry Studies of O2-Sensing FixL and (R200, I209) Variants from Sinorhizobium meliloti Reveal Conformational Changes Coupled to Ligand Photodissociation from the Heme-PAS DomainBiochemistry, 2024, 63 (1), 116-127. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00438
    • Farquhar, E. R.; Emerson, J. P. ; Koehntop, K. D.; Reynolds, M. F.; Trmčić. M.; Lawrence, Que, L., Jr. In Vivo Self-Hydroxylation of an Fe-Substituted Manganese Dependent Extradiol Dioxygenase, Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry 2011, 16, 589-596. DOI: 10.1007/s00775-011-0760-4 
    • Reynolds, M. F., Ackley*, L., Blizman*, A., Lutz*, Z., Manoff*, D. R., Miles*, M., Pace*, M., Patterson*, J., Pozzessere*, N., Saia*, K., Sato*, R., Smith*, D., Tarves*, P., Weaver*, M., Sieg, K., Lukat-Rodgers, G. S., Rodgers, K. R. Role of Conserved Fa-helix Residues in the Native Fold and Stability of the Kinase-Inhibited Oxy State of the Oxygen-sensing FixL Protein from Sinorhizobium meliloti. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 2009, 485, 150-159. DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2009.02.011  
    • Hou, S., Reynolds, M. F., Horrigan, F., Heinemann, S. H., Hoshi, T. Reversible binding of heme to proteins in cellular signal transduction. Accounts of Chemical Research 2006, 39, 918-924. DOI: 10.1021/ar040020w 
    • Emerson, J. P., Wagner, M. L., Reynolds, M. F., Que, L., Jr., Sadowsky, M. J., Wacket, L. P. The Role of Histidine 200 in MndD, the Mn(II)-Dependent 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate 2,3-dioxygenase from Arthrobacter globiformis CM-2, a site-directed mutagenesis study. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry 2005,10, 751-760. DOI: >10.1007/s00775-005-0017-1 
    • Tang, D. X., Xu, R., Reynolds, M. F., Garcia, M. L., Heinemann, S. H., Hoshi, T. Haem Can Bind to and Inhibit Mammalian Calcium-Dependent Slo1 BK Channels. Nature 2003, 425, 531-534. DOI: 10.1038/nature02003 
    • Reynolds, M. F., Costas, M., Ito, M., Jo, D-H., Tipton, A. A., Whiting, A. K., L.  Que, L., Jr. 4-Nitrocatechol as a Probe of a Mn(II)-Dependent Extradiol-Cleaving Catechol Dioxygenase (MndD). A Comparison with Relevant Fe(II) and Mn(II) Model Complexes. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry 2003, 8, 263-272. DOI: 10.1007/s00775-002-0411-x 
    • Carr, H. S, Tran, D., Reynolds, M. F., Burstyn, J. N., Spiro, T. G. Activation of Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase by Four-Coordinate Metalloporphyrins: Evidence for a Role for Porphyrin Conformation. Biochemistry 2002, 41, 10149-10157. DOI: 10.1021/bi010777k
    • Minelli, M., Hoang, M-L., Kraus, M., Kucera, G., Loertscher, J., Reynolds, M., Timm, N., Chiang, M. Y., Powell, D. The Effect of Substituents on the Phenyl Portion of the Imido Ligand on the Structure and Properties of Molybdenum(VI) Imido Complexes. Inorganic Chemistry 2002, 41, 5954-5960. DOI: 10.1021/ic025642x 
    • Reynolds, M. F., Parks, R. B., Burstyn, J. N., Shelver, D., Thorsteinsson, M. V., Kerby, R. L., Roberts, G. P., Vogel, K. M., Spiro, T. G. Electronic Absorption, EPR and Resonance Raman Spectroscopy of CooA, a CO-Sensing Transcription Factor from R. rubrum, Reveals a Five-Coordinate NO-Heme. Biochemistry 2000, 39, 388-396. DOI: 10.1021/bi991378g 
    • Ivanisevic, A., Reynolds, M. F., Burstyn, J. N., Ellis, A. B. Films of Metalloporphyrins: Nitric Oxide Sensing and Evidence for the Aversion of an Analyte to a Buried Semiconductor-Film Interface. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2000, 122, 3731-3738. DOI: 10.1021/ja993855o 
    • Shelver, D., Thorsteinsson, M. V., Kerby, R. L., Chung, S-Y., Roberts, G. P., Reynolds, M. F., Parks, R. B., Burstyn, J. N. Identification of Two Important Heme Site Residues (Cysteine 75 and Histidine 77) in CooA, the CO-Sensing Transcription Factor of Rhodospirillum rubrum. Biochemistry 1999, 38, 2669-2678. DOI: 10.1021/bi982658j 
    • Reynolds, M. F., Shelver, D., Kerby, R. L., Parks, R. B., Roberts, G. P., Burstyn, J. N. EPR and Electronic Absorption Spectroscopies of the CO-Sensing CooA Protein Reveal a Cysteine-Ligated Low Spin Ferric Heme. Journal of the American Chemical Society Communication 1998, 120, 9080-9081. DOI: 10.1021/bi982658j

    Editorially Reviewed Books

    • X. Savarimuthu, U. Rao, M. F. Reynolds, co-editors, Go Green for Environmental Sustainability: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Theory and Practice, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, July 13, 2021, pages 1-276

    Invited, Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters

    Saint Joseph’s University undergraduate students are indicated by * 

    • Reynolds, M. F., Barry*, D., Pogash*, S. Making Heme Proteins Green: Designing Enzymes for Bioremediation and Environmental Sustainability, Go Green for Environmental Sustainability: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Theory and Practice, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Publishing Group, July 13, 2021. pp. 2-14 
    • Reynolds, M. F., Burstyn, J. N. Mechanism of Activation of Soluble Guanylate Cyclase by NO: Allosteric Regulation Through Changes in Heme Coordination Geometry. Nitric Oxide: Biology and Pathobiology, Editor: Louis Ignarro (Nobel Laureate in Medicine or Physiology, 1998), Academic Press, San Diego, 381-389, 2001 
    • Que, L., Jr., Reynolds, M. F. Manganese(II)-Dependent Extradiol-Cleaving Catechol Dioxygenase. Metal Ions in Biological Systems, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Publishing Group, Manganese and its Role in Biological Processes, 37, 505-525, 2000 
    • Reynolds, M. F., Hurst, J. K., Burstyn, J.N. Nitric Oxide: Yearbook of Science and Technology McGraw Hill, 1999. 255-256 Conference Abstracts Published in Journals Reynolds, M. F., Parks, R. B., Shelver, D., Thorsteinnson, M. V., Kerby, R. B., Roberts, G. P., Burstyn, J. N. Spectroscopy of CO-sensing CooA Reveals a Ligand Displacement Mechanism for CO Activation. J. Inorg. Biochem. 1999, 74, 276 (from the 9th International Conference of Biological Inorganic Chemistry (ICBIC)) 

    Other Scientific Work

    • Reynolds, M. F., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Studies on the mechanisms of activation of NO-sensing soluble guanylyl cyclase from bovine lung and CO-sensing CooA from Rhodospirillum rubrum. graduate thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison library, 1999, pages 1-520

    Presentations At Professional Conferences

    Saint Joseph’s University undergraduate students are indicated by* 

    • Reynolds, M. F. Photoacoustic Calorimetry and Spectroscopic Studies of O2-sensing FixL from S. meliloti and Heme-PAS Domain Variants Reveal Multiple Intermediates in the Signal Transduction Mechanism, American Chemical Society National Conference, New Orleans, Podium presentation, Bioinorganic Section (Presider of session), March 20, 2024
    • Barr*, G., Ortiz de Montellano, E.*, Rao, U., Reynolds, M. F. The Degradation of Industrial Azo Dyes with Heme Proteins and Hydrogen Peroxide, poster presentation, CUR Undergraduate Research Festival, Saint Joseph’s University, April 2023 
    • Ortiz de Montellano, E.*, Barr, G., Faglie, B.*, Stefanic, I.*, Rao, U., Reynolds, M. F. Biodegradation of Industrial Textile Anthraquinone Dyes with Hydrogen Peroxide using Horse Hemoglobin and Horse Heart Myoglobin as Green Catalysts, Center for Undergraduate Research Research Festival, Saint Joseph’s University, April 2023
    • Barr, G.*, Reynolds, M. and Rao, U. The Degradation of Four Key Industrial Dyes with Heme Proteins and Hydrogen Peroxide, Sigma Xi Regional Conference, Saint Joseph’s University, April 2023 
    • Ortiz de Montellano, E.*, Barr, G.*, Stefanic, I.*, Falgie, B.*, Reynolds, M., and Rao, U. Decolorization of Industrial Textle Anthraquinone Dyes with Hydrogen Peroxide using Horse Hemoglobin and Horse Heart Myoglobin as Green Catalysts. Sigma Xi Regional Conference, Saint Joseph’s University, April 2022
    • Barr*, G., Ortiz de Montellano, E.*, Rao, U., Reynolds, M. F. The Degradation of Industrial Azo Dyes with Heme Proteins and Hydrogen Peroxide, poster presentation, American Chemical Society National Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, March 2023
    • Ortiz De Montellano, E.*, Barr, G.*, Faglie, B.*, Stefanic, I.*, Rao, U., Reynolds, M. F. Biodegradation of Industrial Textile Anthraquinone Dyes with Hydrogen Peroxide using Horse Hemoglobin and Horse Heart Myoglobin as Green Catalysts, poster presentation, American Chemical Society National Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, March 2023 
    • Reynolds, M. F., Rao, U., Pogash*, S., Saul*, A., Barry*, D. Turning Heme Proteins Green: A Study of the Degradation of Anthraquinone Textile Dyes using Mammalian Hemoglobin and Myoglobin, poster presentation, Goldschmidt International Conference, hybrid, Honolulu, HI, July 2022 
    • Reynolds, M. F., Rao, U., Pogash*, S., Saul*, A. , Barry*, D. Turing Heme Proteins Green: A Study of the Degradation of Anthraquinone Textile Dyes using Mammalian Hemoglobin and Myoglobin, selected for a flash talk, Goldschmidt International Conference, hybrid, Honolulu, HI, July 2022 
    • Rao, U., Reynolds, M., Pogash*, S., Saul*, A. , Barry*, D. Exploring the Bioremediation Potential of Mammalian Hemoglobin and Myoglobin in the Degradation of Toxic Azo Industrial Dyes, poster presentation, Goldschmidt International Conference, hybrid,Honolulu, HI, July 2022. 
    • Rao, U., Reynolds, M., Pogash*, S., Saul*, A. , Barry*, D. Exploring the Bioremediation Potential of Mammalian Hemoglobin and Myoglobin in the Degradation of Toxic Azo Industrial Dyes, selected for a flash talk, Goldschmidt International Hybrid Conference, Honolulu, HI, July 2022. 
    • Reynolds, M. F. Conformational Changes Associated with Ligand Dissociation of the FixL Heme-PAS Protein from S. meliloti: Insights into the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism, research talk, American Chemical Society Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting, The College of New Jersey, NJ, June 2022 
    • Pogash, S.*, Saul, A.*, Barry, D.*, Reynolds, M. F., Rao, U. A Comparative Study of the Effectiveness of Myoglobin and Hemoglobin in the Bioremediation of Azo, Anthraquinone, Indigoid, and Triarylmethane Dye Pollution, 32nd Annual Sigma Xi Symposium, Saint Joseph’s University, PA, April 2022
    • Pogash*, S., Saul*, A., Barry*, D., Rao, U., Reynolds, M. F. Turning heme proteins green: Novel applications of heme proteins in the bioremediation of azo, anthraquinone, indigoid, and triarylmethane industrial dye pollution, American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, March 2022
    • Reynolds, M. F., Pogash*, S., Barry*, D. Studies of FixL from S. meliloti reveal the Importance of a Conserved Salt Bridge in the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism, Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, Electronic Biological Inorganic Chemistry (eBIC) international Conference, selected flash talk, July2021
    • Reynolds, M. F., Pogash*, S., Barry*, D. A Salt Bridge Between a Conserved Arginine and a Heme Propionate Plays a Key Role in the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism of the FixL Protein from Sinorhizobium meliloti, Middle Atlantic States, American Chemical Society Regional Meeting, University of Delaware, Online Talk(selected as Opening Speaker of the Chemical Biology Innovation Symposium) , June 2021
    • Pogash*, S., Barry*, D., Reynolds, M. F. Green Chemistry/Bioremediation: Converting SmFixL from an Oxygen Sensor Into a Dye-Decolorizing Peroxidase, American Chemical Society Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting, University of Delaware, online poster, June 2021
    • Barry*, D., Pogash*, S., Reynolds, M. F. Use of Heme Proteins in Bioremediation Efforts: Turning Heme Green, American Chemical Society Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting, University of Delaware, online poster, June 2021 
    • Brame*, N., Troutman*, A., Reynolds, M. F.  Conserved Heme Domain Residues Play a Crucial Role in the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism of the SmFixL protein from S. meliloti National American Chemical Society Meeting, Philadelphia PA, March 2020 (accepted but in-person conference cancelled due to Covid-19)
    • Brame*, N., Troutman*, A., Reynolds, M. F.  Spectroscopic Studies of the SmFixL Protein from S. meliloti Reveal that Conserved Residues in the Heme Domain Play Crucial Roles in the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism. International Conference of Bioinorganic Chemistry (ICBIC-19) Interlaken, Switzerland, August 2019 
    • Dispenziere*, E., McCann*, D., Reynolds, M. F. The Role of Conserved Heme Residues in the Oxygen-Sensing Mechanism of the SmFixL Protein from S. meliloti. National American Chemical Society Meeting, Orlando Fl, March 2019 
    • McHugh*, M., Schadt*, J., Reynolds, M. F. Understanding the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism of the Heme-PAS Protein SmFixL using Site-Directed Mutagenesis and Small Molecule Binding Studies. National American Chemical Society Meeting, San Diego CA, March 2016
    • Vilbert*, A., Ang*, E., Reynolds, M. F. Site-Directed Mutagenesis and Spectroscopic Studies of the Oxygen Sensing Heme-PAS FixL Protein from S. meliloti Reveal the Importance of Fa-helix Residues in Oxygen Sensing. National American Chemical Society Meeting, New Orleans LA, March 2013
    • Julian*, N., Ott*, C., Nguyen*, K., Reynolds, M. F. Site-directed mutagenesis studies of Conserved Residues in the Heme Domain of SmFixL*: Insights into the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism of Heme-PAS Proteins, National American Chemical Society Meeting, San Diego CA March 2012
    • Ang*, E., Julian*, N., Nguyen*, K., Ott*, C., Reynolds, M. F. Spectroscopic and Site directed Mutagenesis studies of Conserved Residues in the Heme Domain of SmFixL*: Insights into the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism of Heme-PAS Proteins, Swarthmore College, Regional Microbiology Educators Annual Student Research Symposium July 2011
    • Castonguay*, A., Ott*, C., Reynolds, M. F. Conserved Fa-helix Residues Play an Important Role in the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism of the Heme-PAS  SmFixL* Protein from Sinorhizobium meliloti. Sigma Xi Regional Meeting, Saint Joseph’s University, April 2011
    • Castonguay*, A., Millet*, N., Reynolds, M. F. Conserved Fa-helix Residues Play an Important Role in the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism of the Heme-PAS SmFixL* Protein from Sinorhizobium meliloti. Sigma Xi Regional Meeting, Saint Joseph’s University, April 2010
    • Ang*, E., Julian*, N., Nguyen*, K., Castonguay*, A., Ott*, C., Reynolds, M. F. Penn State University, Conserved Fa-helix Residues Play an Important Role in the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism of the heme-PAS  SmFixL protein from Sinorhizobium meliloti. National Metals in Biology Conference, Penn State University, PA, June 2010 
    • Castonguay*, A., Lam*, L., Millet*, N., Ott*, C., Reynolds, M. F. Conserved Fa-helix Residues Play an Important Role in the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism of the heme-PAS  SmFixL protein from Sinorhizobium meliloti. Regional Microbiology Educators Annual Student Research Symposium College, July 2009. 
    • Ackley*, L., Sato*, R., Blizman*, A., Geissler*, J., Miles*, M., Pozzessere*, N., Sato*, R., Reynolds, M. F. Role of Conserved Fa helix Residues in the Native Fold and Stability of the Kinase Inhibited Oxy State of the Oxygen Sensing FixL Protein from S. meliloti. Sigma Xi Regional Meeting, Saint Joseph’s University, April 2009 
    • Ackley*, L., Sato*, R., Blizman*, A., Reynolds, M. F. . Role of conserved heme domain residues in the oxygen sensing mechanism of FixL from S. meliloti Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Biochemistry, National American Chemical Society Meeting, Philadelphia, PA August 2008 
    • Weaver*, M., Ackley*, L., Lutz*, Z., Reynolds, M. F. The Role of Conserved Proximal in the Heme-based Oxygen Sensor FixL from S. meliloti. National American Chemical Society Meeting, New Orleans, March 2008
    • Ackley*, L., Lutz*, Z., Smith*, D., Weaver*, M., Reynolds, M. F. The Role of Conserved Proximal Residues in the Heme-Based Oxygen Sensor FixL from S. meliloti. Americal Chemical Society Philadelphia Sectional Meeting, Temple University, Philadelphia, January, 2008
    • Weaver*, M., Reynolds M. F. The Role of Conserved Proximal Residues in the Heme-Based Oxygen Sensor FixL from S. meliloti. Sigma Xi Regional Meeting, Saint Joseph’s University, April 2008 
    • Patterson*, J., Pace*, M., Reynolds, M.F. Heme Inhibits Mammalian BK Channels. National American Chemical Society Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 2007 Ackley*, L., Lutz*, Z., Weaver*, M., Reynolds, M. The Role of Conserved Proximal Heme Site Residues in the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism of FixL from S. meliloti. Regional Microbiology Educators Annual Student Research Symposium College, July, 2007 
    • Weaver*, M., Lutz*, Z., Ackley*, L., Reynolds, M. The Role of Conserved Proximal Heme Site Residues in the Oxygen Sensing Mechanism of FixL from S. meliloti. Northeastern Microbiologists:  Physiology, Ecology and Taxonomy (NEMPET), June, 2007. 
    • Patterson*, J., Schutt*, M., Saia*, K., Reynolds, M. F. The Oxygen Sensing Mechanism of FixL. Sigma Xi Regional Meeting, Saint Joseph’s University, April 2007. 
    • Patterson*, J., Weaver*, M., Reynolds, M. F. The Mechanism of Oxygen Sensing in FixL, Northeastern Microbiologists:  Physiology, Ecology and Taxonomy (NEMPET), June 2006. 
    • ace*, M., Burrows*, J., Reynolds, M.F. Heme Regulates Mammalian BK Channels, Northeastern Microbiologists:  Physiology, Ecology and Taxonomy (NEMPET), June 2006. 
    • Wesolow*, J., Saia*, K., Pace*, M., Reynolds, M.F., Hoshi, T. Regulation of Mammalian BK Channels by Heme. National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR), University of North Carolina-Asheville, April 2006. 
    • Wesolow*, J., Olson*, J., Pace*, M., Reynolds, M. F. Regulation of Mammalian Large-Conduction Potassium Channels by Heme. Sigma Xi Regional Meeting, Saint Joseph’s University, April 2006. 
    • Saia*, K., Patterson*, J., Reynolds, M. F. How does FixL Sense Oxygen and Regulate Nitrogen Fixation in Alfalfa Plants? Sigma Xi Meeting, Saint Joseph’s University, April 2006. 
    • Reynolds, M. F., Manoff*, D., Tarves*, P, Tang, X. D., Hoshi, T. Heme Inhibits Mammalian BK Channels, International Conference of Biological Inorganic Chemistry (ICBIC 12), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, August 2005. 
    • Manoff*, D. R., Saia*, K., Tarves*, P., Cunic*, A.M., Lemons*, L. L., Reynolds, M. F. The Role of the Proximal Histidine in the Oxygen Sensing of FixL from Sinorhizobium meliloti, American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Meeting, Washington, D.C., Feb. 2005.
    • Manoff*, D., Saia*, K., Cunic*, A., Reynolds, M. Determination of the role of the proximal Histidine (His194) in gas-sensing in the FixL protein Sinorhizobium meliloti. Sigma Xi Regional Conference, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia PA April 2005.
    • Reynolds, M. F., Manoff*, D. M., Tarves*, P. Heme Binds to and Regulates Mammalian BK Channels, American Chemical Society National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, August 2004.
    • Reynolds, M. F., Manoff*, D. M., Tarves*, P., Xiang, P.;, Tang, D.; Hoshi, T. Heme Binds to and Regulates Mammalian BK Channels, Tetrapyrrole Gordon Conference, Newport, RI, July 2004.
    • Manoff*, D., Tarves*, P., Reynolds, M. The Oxygen sensing Mechanism of FixL Sigma Xi Regional Conference, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia PA, April 2004.
    • Reynolds, M. F., Wagner, M. L., Sadowsky, M. J., Wackett, L. P., Que, Jr. , L. Probing The Mechanism and Metal Specificity of MndD, a Mn(II)-Dependent Extradiol-Cleaving Catechol Dioxygenase From Arthrobacter globiformis CM-2, Using Spectroscopic Techniques and Site-Directed Mutagenesis, American Chemical Society Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting, Princeton, NJ, July 2003. 
    • Reynolds, M. F., Wagner, M. L., Koehntop, K.,  Wackett, L. P., Sadowsky, M. J., Que Jr., L. Spectroscopic Studies of Fe-Substituted Mn-Dependent MndD, an Extradiol-Cleaving Catechol Dioxygenase from Arthrobacter globiformis CM-2, Reveal a Blue-Green Enzyme with an Inactive Fe-Catecholate Active Site.” American Chemical Society National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 2003. 
    • Reynolds, M. F., Wagner, M. L., Koehntop, K., Wackett, L. P., Sadowsky, M. J., Que Jr., L. Spectroscopic Studies of Fe-Substituted Mn-Dependent MndD, an Extradiol-Cleaving Catechol Dioxygenase from Arthrobacter globiformis CM-2, Reveal a Blue-Green Enzyme with an Inactive Fe-Catecholate Active Site.” American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 2003. This poster was chosen for a second presentation in the ACS Sci-Mix session, an honor given to <10% of presentations in each division. It was also highlighted in the ACS  news journal Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN). 
    • Reynolds M. F., M. L. Wagner, M. L., Sadowsky, M. J., Wacket, L. P.  Que, Jr., L. Site-Directed Mutagenesis Studies of Conserved Second Coordination Sphere Residues in the Manganese-Dependent 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetate 2,3-Dioxygenases from Arthrobacter globiformis strain CM-2 Suggest the Importance of H200 in Stabilizing the Metal Bound Superoxide in the Extradiol Cleavage Mechanism. Great Lakes Regional American Chemical Society Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, June 2002. 
    • A. Ivanisevic, Reynolds, M. F. Photoluminescent Properties of Cadmium Selenide in Contact with Solutions and Films of Metalloporphyrins: Nitric Oxide and Oxygen-Driven Transducers, American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, March 2000. 
    • Reynolds, M. F. , Parks, R. B., Shelver, D., Thorsteinsson, M. W., Kerby, R. L., Roberts, G. P., Burstyn, J. N. Spectroscopy of CO-Sensing CooA Reveals a Ligand Displacement Mechanism for CO Activation, International Conference of Biological Inorganic Chemistry (ICBIC-9), Minneapolis, MN, July 1999. 
    • Reynolds, M.F. , Shelver,, D., Burstyn, J. N. Roberts, G. P. Spectroscopic Studies of the Heme Environment in CO-Sensing CooA, Oral Presentation, Graduate Research Seminar in Bioinorganic Chemistry and Metals in Biology Gordon Research Conference, Ventura, CA, January 1998. 
    • Reynolds, M. F. , Graham, J.P. , Dierks, E. A., Bursten, B. E. , Burstyn, J. N. Nitric Oxide Activation of Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Nitric Oxide, Los Angeles, CA, July 1996. 
    • Reynolds, M. F. , Dierks, E.A. , Bursten, B. E. , Burstyn,  J. N. Four Coordinate Metalloporphyrins Activate Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase, National Metals in Biology Workshop, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 1995. 
    • Reynolds, M. F. ,  Graham, J.P. , Dierks, E.A., Bursten, B. E. , Burstyn, J. N The Trans Influence of NO in Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase: A Mechanism for Activation, American Chemical Society National Meeting, Chicago, IL, August 1995. 
    • Reynolds, M. F. , Dierks, E.A. , Yu,, A., Burstyn, J. N. The NO Sensing Mechanism of Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase, University of Wisconsin Great Lakes Regional American Chemical Society Meeting, Madison, WI, 1994. 
    • Reynolds, M. F. Krauss, M. , Timm, N. , Minelli, M. Synthesis, Structure and Characterization of Molybdenum (VI) Imido Complexes of the Type (Mo(L)(dtc)3)2(Mo6O19), American Chemical Society National Meeting, Denver, CO, January 1993.

  •  
     

    GRANTS AND AWARDS

    • 2026-2029 : American Chemical Society-Petroleum Research Fund (ACS-PRF) Grant Award, Primary Investigator, “Utilizing the Power of Heme Proteins Encapsulated in Metal-Organic Frameworks in the Oxidation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons”
    • 2025: Milton-Levy Grant Award, “Utilizing the Power of Heme Proteins Encapsulated in Metal-Organic Frameworks in the Oxidation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons”
    • 2024: Selected Presider at the Medical Applications of Bioinorganic Chemistry Section of the Spring 2024 National Meeting of the American Chemical Society
    • 2023: National Leadership in obtaining Fulbright Fellowships recognized by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s letter, invited to Washington D. C. for ceremony with Donna Brazille, Chair of the Fulbright Oversight Committee (SJU selected as a top national Fulbright producer in the masters category in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Feb. 10th, 2023 for the 3rd time in the University’s history).
    • 2022: American Chemical Society (ACS) Philadelphia Section Award for Excellence in College Teaching, for teaching, mentorship, and scholarly activities in the chemical sciences, first Hawk Hill faculty member to receive this award
    • 2021: Selected Research Flash Talk, Electronic Biological Inorganic Chemistry (eBIC) International Conference, Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry.
    • 2016-2017: Invited Co-writer, National Biochemistry Exam offered by the American Chemical Society (ACS)
    • 2011: National Institutes of Health Grant, research consultant for Lankenau Hospital for awarded grant on the study of inhibitors of the human IDO enzyme involved in certain cancers
    • 2010: National Metals in Biology Conference, conference grant, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
    • 2006: Guest, National Public Radio, to discuss community-engaged work in food chemistry at Gompers Elementary School, Philadelphia School District
    • 2006: Research participant on an anti-obesity grant to research and fight obesity in Metropolitan youth from HHS; provided training on creating nutrition education to the 4th grade curriculum of Gompers Elementary School, Philadelphia School District.
    • 2005: Invited Presenter, US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Cochran Program
    • 2004 –2007: American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund, Primary Investigator, “Probing the Mechanism of the Oxygen-Sensing Heme Protein FixL from Rhizobia meliloti”
    • 2004 - 2007: Research Corporation Grant, Primary Investigator, “Determining the Mechanism of Heme Binding and Inhibition in Mammalian BK Channels”
    • 2004 – 2007: Merck Bioprocess Research & Development Award, Merck Research Laboratories, Primary Investigator, for undergraduate research support
    • 2004: Tetrapyrrole Gordon Research conference grant
    • 2004: Collaborative Nature publication highlighted at 2004 Commencement by University President Fr. Timothy Lannon, S.J.
    • 2003: Research highlighted in the American Chemical Society’s news magazine Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN) November 24, 2003.
    • 2003: Research showcased in Science Daily Highlights, October 3, 2003. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/10/031002055731.htm
    • 2003: Research highlighted in the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Eureka Research Highlights, October 1, 2003.  https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/489775
    • 2003: Published in Nature, becoming the first faculty member from Saint Joseph’s University to publish in this journal
    • 2003: Research highlighted in the American Chemical Society’s news magazine, Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN), April, 2003.
    • 1999-2002: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, University of Minnesota advisor Dr. Lawrence Que Jr, Regents Professor, AAAS and ACS Fellow, and National Academy of Sciences Member,
    • 1994-1998: NIH Biophysics Trainee Fellowship, University of Wisconsin-Madison, advisor. Dr. Judith Burstyn
    • 1989-1993: Charles White Scholarship, Grinnell College, Grinnell IA.